I am not generally a fan of sequels, prequels, continuations and modernisations of Jane Austen’s novels – why mess with perfection, I ask? No doubt hundreds more books of that nature will be appearing this year, many of them self-published. However, when Gill Hornby’s novel Miss Austen was published in 2020, I was one of the first readers, because the book had such good reviews. And deservedly so. It’s a moving and excellent novel, and I loved it! She followed it up with another Austen-related novel, Godmersham Park, published in 2022, but I didn’t think it was as good as the earlier novel.
I was apprehensive when I heard that Miss Austen was to be turned into a TV series. So often, poor casting, messing with the script, and modern changes can prevent a good novel from being turned into a good drama.
However, I have now watched the series, and absolutely loved it! If you know something of Jane Austen’s short life (she died aged only 41) you will get a great deal from it, but friends who know very little of her life and family have also loved the new series. The ‘Miss Austen’ of the title is not Jane, but her older sister Cassandra; the story is told via flashbacks from 1830 to the time when Jane was still alive. Cassandra was engaged to a young clergyman, Tom Fowle. He went on a voyage to the West Indies as a naval chaplain, to make money for them to marry, and he died out there. Cassandra was heartbroken and never married. There is a story that Jane Austen had a seaside romance – we know very little detail of this relationship. Gill Hornby’s novel gives a rather nice twist as to which sister was involved in the seaside romance, and shows that really the great love affair was not between either Miss Austen and a man, but between the two devoted sisters.
I found myself in tears watching the four-part series. It was beautifully acted, with Keeley Hawes as Cassandra, gorgeous Max Irons as an invented character called Henry Hobday, and Patsy Ferran as Jane Austen.
And I recently watched a new movie that was part of the French Film Festival – Jane Austen Wrecked My Life. Possibly mistitled, but a really delightful film. It is due for general release in Australia in June.
I was interested to hear that we will soon have a new version of John Galsworthy’s The Forsyte Saga to watch. The original BBC adaptation came out in 1967. In 2002, another version was screened (a disappointing one, in my view), and now this year we will be able to see The Forsytes, a six-part version.
Susan Hampshire, who memorably starred as Fleur Forsyte in the original, will play a dowager in this new production. I loved the novels and am hoping this new adaptation will be worth watching when it comes out later this year.
What do you think about the sequels, prequels, continuations and modernisations of Jane Austen’s novels? Have you seen either of these new adaptations yet? Let me know your thoughts in a comment.
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Glynda Andrews
Susannah, where/how did you see Miss Austen?
Susannah Fullerton
You will LOVE it, Glynda. For a short time it was available on Youtube. Possibly it was illegal, and it soon disappeared so you had to be quick. We will try and get a copy of it into the JASA library so people can borrow it. I cried when watching it and found it really moving. I also loved the book.
Sabine
Hey Susannah, I had a phase of reading lots of prequels and sequels but not so much any more these days. I haven’t read these but am wondering if you have heard anything about them? Influence (Persuasion retelling), Tolerable (P&P retelling) by Ruth Mitchell and The Austen Sisters by Dee Blankenship. They keep popping up on my Instagram feed.
Susannah Fullerton
Sorry, but I have not read any of those ones. There are so many new books out this year about JA that it is hard to keep up and I don’t read a huge amount of sequels and fan fiction.